Snyder names Arwood director of state licensing department

LANSING — Gov. Rick Snyder is appointing Steve Arwood to become the director of the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs.

The governor's office announced today that Arwood will head the office responsible for overseeing implementation of the contentious anti-union right-to-work legislation when it becomes effective this March. He is replacing Steve Hilfinger, who left to become COO of the Michigan Economic Development Corp. Arwood has been acting director of LARA since Hilfinger left in December.

Arwood will overlook all licensing and regulatory matters in Michigan. He is also the head of the Unemployment Insurance Agency. Snyder's office said Arwood will remain in that position until a replacement is named. Arwood previously has been LARA's deputy director for employment security and workforce safety.